Starbucks is gearing up to announce its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday. The multinational coffee corporation shared a preview of its quarterly performance on October 22, indicating a decline in its sales for the third consecutive quarter. As Wall Street analysts polled by LSEG anticipate, the earnings per share are expected to be around $1.03, with revenue projected to hit $9.38 billion. This announcement will be notable as it represents CEO Brian Niccol's inaugural earnings report since taking the helm in September, with a mission to rejuvenate Starbucks' operational success.

CEO Brian Niccol has outlined plans to reinvigorate U.S. sales and "return Starbucks to its roots." He aims to streamline menu offerings, adjust pricing structures, and ensure all customer orders are fulfilled efficiently. The preliminary report reveals that Starbucks' most recent quarter saw a 3% decrease in sales, while same-store sales plummeted by 7%, marking the company's most significant downturn since the Covid-19 pandemic. In North America, same-store sales fell by 6%, and in China, they went down by 14%. The company’s preliminary adjusted earnings per share stood at 80 cents.

Due to the leadership transition and recent poor performance, Starbucks has suspended its fiscal 2025 outlook. Despite these challenges, Starbucks' shares have experienced a modest 1% increase year-to-date, falling short of the S&P 500's impressive 22% surge. Currently, the company's market capitalization stands at $111 billion.

For further insights from CNBC Pro, notable predictions include Goldman Sachs forecasting a mere 3% annual return for the S&P 500 over the next decade, a dip from the 13% annual returns of the past ten years. With gold reaching new highs, industry experts have shared their forecasts for the precious metal's trajectory. Additionally, Bank of America has raised Nvidia's price target, suggesting the stock could climb nearly 40%, and ten analysts have recently increased their price targets on three stocks, including a significant player in the AI sector.